Not every type of CBD product is the same. In fact, there are considerable differences between CBD isolate, sometimes called “pure CBD,” and full-spectrum CBD—the more natural option. Discover the differences between these two types of CBD extract, and find out which option is best for your needs.
Does the Type of CBD I Use Matter?
New users often think that “CBD is CBD.” Not so—the effects you’ll experience vary significantly depending on the type of CBD you use, and your choice of CBD extracts may even have an impact on drug testing. To make sure you choose the right extract for your particular situation, it’s important to educate yourself on the various types of CBD that are available.
What is Pure CBD?
“Pure” or isolate CBD consists entirely of the CBD molecule. Any other substances are only present in such tiny concentrations that they might as well not be present. While isolate CBD offers the advantage of not containing any THC whatsoever, it doesn’t offer a special form of synergy that occurs when cannabinoids are used together.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD?
Full-spectrum CBD contains the entire range of useful substances found in CBD-rich hemp flower. In addition to high concentrations of CBD, this type of extract also includes a variety of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, which improve CBD’s effects. Full-spectrum CBD also contains up to 0.3% THC, however, which might not be right for everyone.
Isolate CBD vs. Full-Spectrum CBD
So, how do isolate CBD and full-spectrum CBD compare? For starters, most users consider full-spectrum CBD to be more effective, and since it contains more than just the CBD molecule, it certainly offers a wider range of benefits. Isolate CBD could be a good option if you’re concerned about THC showing up on a drug test, but there are additional forms of CBD extract we haven’t covered yet that also don’t contain any THC.
What is the Entourage Effect?
One of the main reasons you might find full-spectrum CBD to be superior to isolate CBD is due to a form of natural synergy called the entourage effect. Scientists believe that using multiple cannabinoids at the same time could potentially enhance their experienced effects—the more cannabinoids you use at once, the more effective they might be.
The entourage effect also applies to terpenes—beneficial, aromatic oils naturally found in hemp and cannabis. The best full-spectrum hemp extract, as a result, also contains high concentrations of terpenes.
Are There Other Options?
If the enhanced effects of full-spectrum CBD sound alluring but you’re concerned about failing a drug test, there’s a best-of-both-worlds option you might want to consider: broad-spectrum CBD. In almost all respects, broad-spectrum CBD is the same as full-spectrum CBD—it just doesn’t contain any THC.
Just like full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD offers the entourage effect. It won’t, on the other hand, make you fail a drug test since it doesn’t contain any detectable concentrations of THC. With broad-spectrum CBD now available, CBD isolate no longer offers any unique advantages.
What is the Best Type of CBD?
Out of the three options we’ve covered, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD are by far the best. Before broad-spectrum CBD was available, CBD isolate was a must for users who didn’t want to consume any THC despite the fact that pure CBD doesn’t offer the entourage effect.
Now that you can choose between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, however, you have two excellent options that both contain terpenes and minor cannabinoids. Not all full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products contain terpenes, though, so the best CBD oil on the market are those that purposefully include terpenes to make sure the entourage effect is provided to the fullest extent possible.
Isolate CBD vs. Full-Spectrum CBD: The Bottom Line
At this stage in the evolution of the online hemp industry, producers only continue to use CBD isolate because it’s cheaper and easier to work with. Consumers suffer, though, when manufacturers cut corners. If a company still relies on isolate CBD even though broad-spectrum CBD is now available, it might be skipping steps in other ways that might make you miss out on the full benefits of this cannabinoid.
As you choose the right CBD product for your purposes, it’s important to look beyond the type of CBD used and consider other variables as well. Do the company’s products have plenty of customer reviews and come with independent lab reports? Are any cheap ingredients included that might be dangerous or unnecessary?
There’s a lot to consider when buying a CBD product if you want to make the right choice. Now that you know the difference between isolate and full-spectrum CBD, though, you’re one step closer to your personal CBD bliss.
